North Pines Campground

Unbeatable location to access the attractions of Yosemite Valley! Close to the shuttle stop and Curry Village. Bathrooms had flushable toilets, running water, and one outlet. Camp sites are small overall. That being said, your neighbors will greatly influence the quality of your stay.

This was my first time tent camping, and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place to do it than Yosemite. My wife and I had driven through the park during winter before, but experiencing the beauty of the Valley up close in summer was something else entirely. We felt incredibly fortunate to secure a reservation at North Pines, knowing how coveted these spots are by people from around the world.

We had been eagerly anticipating this trip for months, and it exceeded all our expectations. We brought our Golden Retriever and, while we mostly stuck to the loop trail this time, we still had an unforgettable experience. The campground was impeccably maintained, and our fellow campers were respectful of the rules, regulations, and quiet hours. It was refreshing to see how well the honor system worked here.

The bathrooms were clean and regularly maintained, which added to the overall comfort of our stay. Our campsite was just steps away from the serene Tenaya Creek, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty that Yosemite is famous for. The staff was exceptionally friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, clearly taking immense pride in their work.

My only wish was that the K9 Kennel wasn't closed so early for the rest of the season, so that we could've boarded the pup for a few hours to explore more of the hiking trails. After this experience, I can’t help but wonder why it took us so long to camp here. For just $30 a night, I don’t see why I’d ever vacation anywhere else. I can’t wait to return and stay even longer next time!

Our campsite was very impacted by others (tents). We felt like are campsite are was being encroached on by tents.

Very nice staff and the backpacker‘s camp is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the campground.
Unfortunately, the toilets are still out of order. But there is a pit toilet available, which is the only “comfort feature” you would find in the backpacker’s camp in Yosemite Valley, for example.
The general store is very close and (at least when I spend a night at the campground) was open even after 9pm.
I stayed here twice in the last two years before I started my Rim-to-Rim hikes and I can recommend spending one or more nights here.

Very close to the start of many trails, therefore good location imo

Beautiful location, great trails, but close camp sites.

Beautiful place with beautiful views and the valley is easily accessible from the campground

It's Yosemite. Of course it's great. Spot does get a lot of mid-day sun, so if tent camping bring a shade canopy.

Nice view on mountains. Campsite was close to other campsites. Not much privacy.

We loved camping at North Pines! Campsites are close together but it’s a popular destination so that’s expected. Our campsite was very shaded and just across the street from the river. When we were there the river was pretty low and mellow but very inviting. We visited the end of August 2024 and temperatures were hot during the day and comfortable/cool at night. There’s a 5-10pm fire curfew so we ended up buying a butane stove at the Curry Village Mountain shop to cook breakfasts on. The bathrooms were well maintained and had flushable toilets and running water but there was no soap so be sure to bring your own! There was a drinking water refill station and a camping sink water/gray water dumping station which were both very convenient. Food and any scented toiletries have to be kept in bear boxes at each campsite at all times and we saw park rangers checking campsites and giving warnings to campers not taking this seriously. There is also a shuttle stop just outside the campground that makes it super easy to get around Yosemite Valley. 10/10 recommendation North Pines and we can’t wait to come back!